On Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:35:06 -0400, "The UnInmate"
> wrote:

>
>"blake murphy" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:10:23 -0400, Kenneth
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>On Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:25:25 -0700, Mark Thorson
> wrote:
>>>
>>>>> Urban legend??!! Oh my God, do you mean McFerrin walks around
>>>>> with random strangers thinking he killed himself already?
>>>>
>>>>It's a famous story, hence it's an urban legend.
>>>
>>>Howdy,
>>>
>>>So "urban" means "famous?"
>>>
>>>But seriously, if it is a "famous story" why is it not
>>>simply a "legend."
>>>
>>>What's "urban" about it?
>>>
>>>(It is odd how the phrase "urban legend" passed into the
>>>language. I know that there was a book by that title "Urban
>>>Legends" years ago, but many of the legends in the book were
>>>not "urban" at all. I thought at the time that the title
>>>might better have been "Modern Legends.")
>>>
>>>All the best,
>>
>> *snopes* actually has a reun-down of the term:
>>
>> Urban legends are best described as cautionary or moralistic tales
>> passed along by those who believe (or claim) the incidents befell
>> either folks they know personally or acquaintances of friends or
>> family members.
>>
>> Whereas the setting of more traditional legends places them in the
>> realm of long ago, urban legends are set against the backdrop of
>> contemporary times - the stories take place in shopping malls and coed
>> dormitories and feature such up-to-date bogeymen as terrorists, AIDS,
>> and inner-city gangs. Though some of these tales go back a century or
>> more, their details are continually being updated to keep them current
>> with the times; the horse and buggy of bygone days becomes the BMW of
>> today.
>>
>> <http://www.snopes.com/info/ul-def.asp>
>>
>> jan brunvand, who wrote the book of which you speak and a couple
>> sequels, emphasized that the tales were usually first told by a
>> 'friend of a friend' (f.o.a.f., or 'my brother-in-law's boss, etc.)
>> who was the victim or present when the occurrence happened.
>>
>> sometimes there's an element of the story (like the pill that changes
>> water to gasoline) being 'suppressed' by the big-money boys and
>> mainstream media.
>>
>> but you're right, the term has been stretched somewhat since jan wrote
>> his book (which is pretty entertaining).
>
>Wow, musta cost you a fortune to hire a typist to transcribe an entire
>webpage for you. Next time how about having her summarize it in a few of her
>own words and just post a link. No use having the poor lady look pompous.
>

there's this new miracle thing called 'cut and paste.'

your pal,
blake
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